Motorized cabinet structure



1386- 1958 e. STROCCO MOTORIZED CABINET STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1956 W J u INVENTQR I02 GENE ROCCO BY W ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1958 STRQCCO 2,863,413

MOTORIZED CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 9, 1956 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'NVENTOR GENE smocco BY 90 FIG. IO Maw ATTO R N EY Dec. 9, 1958 STRQCCQ 2,863,413

MOTORIZED CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 4g 24 35 l5 I? 28503! P I l l l l i I I I GENE STROCCO BY Wal /C ATTORNEY 2,863,413 Patented Dec, 9, 1958 MOTORIZED cABiNEr sTRUc'r RE Gene Strocco, Whitestone, N. Y. Application November 9,1956, Serial No. 621,457

13Clairns. 01. 112-450 This invention relates to a motorized cabinet structuremore particularly to a cabinet device adapted to store and operatively to accommodate a machine in coactive relation to a motor-mechanism within the device.

In attaching a mechanism, such as a sewing machine, to a conventional cabinet, it is generally necessary to employ special tools and to have manual skill to effect the assembly of the component parts. This is particularly so where the machine does not have a self-contained motor. It is accordingly required, when such conventional cabinet structures are designed for use with such machines, either that the assembly be effected in a fac tory, or that specially trained technicians be employed. It is one of the objectives of my invention to provide a cabinet construction which will eliminate this requirement, and which will make it possible for a machine to be attached to my novel cabinet without the use of special tools or the need for technical experience.

In the above-mentioned aspect of my invention it is a further object to enable small machine units, such as those used as toys, to be quickly and readily attached to the cabinet of my invention by a simple manipulative effort. And in a preferred form of my invention, wherein a toy sewing machine is employed, it is my object to enable the machine to be conveniently stored within the cabinet, and readily and quickly placed into operable position for immediate use.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a structure of this category which can be safely employed and operated by a child or other unskilled person, and readily set into operation and stopped with a minimum of elfort. And in this aspect of my invention it is also an object to employ both electric-switch and mechanical means for bringing the mechanism into and out of operation, thereby introducing a safety factor which is of particular value in a toy unit.

in that aspect of my invention in which the cabinet is adapted for use with a sewing machine, it is my objective to employ a component of the cabinet as an extended working table, whereby both the bedplate and said extended working table can be operatively employed as combined working surfaces.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a case adapted to economically store the machine when it is not in use, so that it will occupy a minimum of space. Another object is to enable the cabinet to be readily employed as a carrying case.

It is still another objective to provide a relatively simple structure adapted to perform the functions hero inabove set forth.

Other objects, features and advantages willappear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cabinet of my invention with the cover removed, showing the sewing machine in operable position, the dot-dash lines indicating the partition member in open position, the section being taken along line 11 of Fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 1, partly in section, a fragment of the upper wall of the enclosure member being removed for clarity, the partition member being shown in its open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 2 taken along line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear portion of the device, the view being substantially like the rear portion shown in Fig. 2,.but with the upper wall of the enclosure member shown in full, a fragment of the sewing machine wheel being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the drive wheel in engagement with the operating wheel of the machine and with the motor shaft.

Figure 6 is a view substantially like Fig. 5, but showing the drive wheel disengaged from the operating wheel of the machine and from the motor shaft.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of Fig. 5

taken substantially along line 7-7 thereof, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section of Fig. 5 taken substantially along line 8-8 thereof, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 7 taken along line 99 thereof, showing the slide member in its rearwardly retracted position.

Figure 10 is a view like Fig. 9, but showing the slide member in its forwardly projected position.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the entire cabinet structure showing the machine in stored position, and showing the cover in its retracted position.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of Fig. 11, but showing the cover in its closed position, the dot-dash lines indicating the cover in its open position.

Figure 13 is a front view of the device, partly in section, looking in the direction of arrows l3-13 of Fig. 2.

Figure l4 is a rear view of the device looking in the direction of arrows ll4;l4- of Fig. 11.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, the cabinet comprises a laterally enclosed bottom casing 15 to the front wall 16 ofwhich is pivotally secured the retractable partition member 17, the pivotal connection preferably comprising an open hinge arrangement whereby the said partition member may, when desired, be removed from its operative engagement with the casing 15. The particular form of hinge arrangement shown at 18 comprises the two hinge bars 19 secured to said front wall 16, and the open hook components 21 secured to the front wall 22 of said partition member, said hook components being detachably and pivotally mounted on said hinge bars 19. The partition member 17 comprises two lateral wings 23 and 24 joined to said front wall 22, and a recessed upper wall 25 adapted to serve as a working platform, the said upper wall 25 having a recessed portion 26 proportioned to permit the machine operatively associated with the cabinet to extend thereabove, in a manner to be hereinafter described. The rear por tion 27 of said partition member is open, that is, it has no wall extending across the rear ends of said wings 23 and 24, whereby said partition member, when in its operatively closed position shown in Fig. 1, will cooperate with the cabinets rear enclosure member 28 to form a laterally enclosed inner chamber generally designated 29. The said rear enclosure member 28 includes the lateral sides 30 and 31, rear wall 32 and recessed top wall 33.

The said walls 23 and 24 of the partition member 17, and the correspondingly positioned walls 30 and 31 of the enclosure member 2b are positioned within said casing 15 and in. proximate relation to the interior surfaces of the respective adjacent side walls 34 and 35 of said casing 15; the top wall 33 of the enclosure member 28 and the top wall of the partition member 17 are horizontally aligned in one plane when the said partion member is in its operatively lowered position within the casing, as illustrated in Fig. 1, it being preferred that the adjacent respective ends 36 and 37 (Fig. 11) of said top walls be in abutment, or at least in close proximity, so as to form a substantially continuous surface along the said upper walls 25 and 33. It is preferred that the rear wall 32 of said enclosure member 28 have a recessed portion 38 at the lower medial portion thereof (Fig. 14), the upper edge 39 of said-recessed portion being above the upper edge 40 of rear wall 411 of said casing 15. It is also preferred that the front wall 22 of partition member 17 have a recessed portion 42 at the lower medial portion thereof, the upper edge 43 of said recessed portion being above the upper edge 44 of the front wall 16 of the bottom casing. The arrangement is hence such as to permit wire conductors to extend through either of said apertured portions 38 and 42, as well as to provide motor ventilation. In the embodiment illustrated, the conductor 45 is shown extending through the front apertured portion 42.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the said enclosure member 28 also contains therein a front laterally disposed wall 46 extending downwardly from a lateral portion of the upper wall 33 to substantially the bottom of the enclosure member. The said wall 46 is proportioned for interlocking slidable engagement with the recessed portion 47 of the platform 48, as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

The said chamber 29 of casing 15 is divided into two compartments, the forward compartment 49 and the rear compartment 56, there being a dividing wall 51 therebetween. Said partition wall 51 has its lateral edges 52 and 53 spaced from the adjacent respective lateral walls 34 and 35 of the bottom casing a sufficient distance to permit the positioning of said lateral walls 30 and 31 within said spaces. The upper portion of said partition wall 51 has a recessed portion 54 to permit the positioning of the actuating mechanism to be hereinafter described.

' Aflixed to said dividing wall 51, by fasteners 55 and 56, is the bracket 57 supporting the motorized actuating mechanism generally designated 58. The motor proper 59 has a main shaft 66 the forward portion of which extends through and is operatively supported by the bearing portion 61 of the bracket (Fig. 8), the terminal portion 62 of the shaft extending into forward compartment 49 and being positioned for underlying engagement with the rubber periphery 63 of the driving wheel 64.

The said driving wheel 64 has aifixed thereto a shaft 65 extending through and rotatably supported by the hollow boss 66 connected to the control plate 67a having an upper cam arm 67 and a downwardly extending stop arm 68 with an elongated slot 69 therein. Extending through said slot is the stop pin 70 supported by the lower portion of said bracket 57 and the motor frame 71 (Fig. 1). It is to be observed that the said cam arm 67 is disposed on the forward side of the bracket 57, whereas the stop arm 68 is disposed on the rear side of said bracket, the connecting portion 72,extending through the apertured portion 73 of said bracket 57. Affixed to said cam arm 67 is the spring 74 shown anchored at 75 to the dividing.

wall 51.

The arrangement is hence such that the said spring 74 normally urges the driving wheel 64 into operative engagement with the said terminal portion 62 of the motor shaft, whereby the operative rotation of the motor will cause an operative rotation of the driving wheel 64. As will more clearly hereinafter appear, when said cam arm 67 is operatively retracted in the direction away from said spring anchorage 75, the operative movement of said cam arm will cause the driving wheel 64 to be moved away from the said terminal portion 62 of the motor shaft, whereby the driving wheel will discontinue its operative rotation. The operative retraction of the driving wheel 64' is rendered possible by virtue of the fact that the apertured portion 73 of bracket 57 is shaped and pro- 4 portioned to permit the movement of connecting portion 72 therein between its operative limiting positions. Moreover, the slotted portion 69 of stop arm 68 is proportioned and positioned to permit its operative movement over said stop pin 70 within the limitations of the slot. In other words, the limiting retracted position of the driving wheel 64 is determined by the uppermost terminal 76 of the slot 69, at which point no further movement of arm 68 is possible because of the engagement of stop pin 70 with said upper portion 76 of the slot. Similarly, the lowermost portion 77 of the slot determines the maximum projected position of said driving wheel 64.

The particular machine adapted to be actuated by wheel 64, in the embodiment illustrated, is the sewing machine '7 8. .This rests upon the said platform 48, which is in turn supported by the base 79 of casing 15. One side of the upper portion of said platform 48 contains the undercut ridge 80, and the other side the spring latch 81, the latter having the spring-loaded roller 82.

In setting the machine operatively into place, the par tition member 17 may be entirely removed from casing 15; or it may be retracted to the dot-dash position illustrated in Fig. l. The base 83 of the machine is then placed upon the platform 48 of the cabinet, with lateral edge 84 disposed within the undercut portion of ridge 80, and the opposite lateral portion 85 of base 83 in pressing engagement with said roller 82, the latter being so positioned as to be in slightly overlapping relation with respect to said lateral portion 85, in known manner. In this position the machine is firmly in place.

As aforesaid, the said aperture portion 26 of the partition member is so proportioned that it will permit the operative body portion of the machine to extend above the top wall 25 of the partition member 17 when the latter is in its operatively closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position said wall 25 is disposed in the same plane as the bedplate 86 of the machine-the arrangement hence being such that the upper surface of top wall 25 serves as an extended work table in cooperative relation with the upper surface of the bed plate 86.

it will be observed (Fig. 4) that the upper wall 33 of the enclosure member 28 contains a recessed portion 87 at the forward medial portion thereof, said recessed portion being proportioned to permit the sewing-machine operating wheel 88 to extend partially downwardly therethrough. The components above described are so proportioned that said operating wheel 83, when operatively in place, as illustrated, is in engagement with the rubber periphery 63 of the drive wheel 64 when the latter is in its projected operative position. Hence, a rotation of said drive wheel 64 will cause the wheel 88 to rotate, thereby actuating the sewing machine.

It is thus apparent that by a simple positioning manipulation of the sewing machine, without the use of tools or complex manipulation, the machine is set into operative position, whereby the closing of a switch, or the operation of an actuating lever (in a manner to be hereinafter described) will set the machine into motion, or cause its motion to be stopped.

Although a sewing machine is illustrated as the machine actuated by the motorized cabinet device, it is of course evident that oher machines having an operaing wheel analogous to wheel 88 can be similarly set into operation, the machine and cabinet and its components being proportioned for coactive operation Within the scope of this invention.

In the form of my invention shown, the cam arm 67 contains an inclined upper cam surface 89 engageable with an actuating button 98 attached to the underside of control slide 91. Said slide is operatively movable within the slotted portion 92 in the upper wall 33 of the enclosure member 28, there being an upper knob 93 adapted to be manually grasped for moving said slide member 91 between its operative positions. When the slide member is moved in the direction ofarrow A, but ton 90 will engage cam surface 89, and causea retraction of cam arm 67 and driving wheel 64, in the manner aforesaid, thereby causing a cessation of rotation of wheel 88.

The slide member contains a channel-like portion 94 having upper and lower flanges 95 and 96 flanking and slidably engaging the respective upper and lower surfaces of the said upper wall 33. The forward portions 97 of said flanges 95 and as are bent toward each other, whereby when such portions are brought into engagement with said wall 33 upon an operative retracting movement of the slide in the direction of arrow A (Fig. 5), they will frictionally engage the wall at a predetermined retracted position, the frictional engagement being such as to cause the slide member to remain at said retracted limiting position, against the action of said spring 74, until manually released.

When the slide member 91 is in its forward position, illustrated in Fig. 5, the button 90 is out of engagement with the said cam surface 89, whereby, through the action of spring 74, the drive wheel is brought into engagement with the terminal 62 of the motor shaft, and with the machine wheel 88.

The said upper wall 33 of the enclosure member 28 also carries a switch member 98 operatively connected to conductors 99 connected to the motor and to the said conductors 45 adapted for attachment to a wall 'outlet, in known manner.

As illustrated in Fig. 12, the cabinet is adapted to support the machine in its inoperative position. The platform 4% is positioned to receive the body of the machine turned on its side, the bedplate 86 being disposed adjacent the forward end 48a of said platform 48, the base of the machine being disposed in closely spaced rela tion to the front wall of the cabinet, as illustrated. The upper wall 25 of the partition member 17 is proportioned so as to enable the said forward compartment 49 conveniently to accommodate substantially the entire machine in its stored position. Hence, when the partition member is swung down into its closed position, the cabinot cover litt (Fig. 12) can be operatively attached to casing lid, this being effected by operatively connecting the complementary open hinge members 101 and 102. When the said cover is closed, the latch mechanism 103 can be locked, in known manner, whereby the entire device can be carried by the handle 104.

Although the drawings show a portable construction, it is also within the scope of this invention to employ the motorized cabinet construction thereof for use with a stationary unit substantially in accordance with the above teachings.

From the above description it is apparent that a standard motor construction having a drive wheel can be positioned within the rear compartment 50. With such motor in place, in the manner above described, the driven unit, such as the sewing machine 78, can readily be placed upon the platform 48, and firmly locked into position by a simple pressing action. This can be accomplished without removing the enclosure member 28, in view of the fact that the recessed portion 87 thereof permits the insertion of the machine operating wheel 88 for operative engagement with the drive a wheel 64. When this is done, and the partition member 17 is in its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1, the machine is ready for operation. The conductors 45 are plugged into a wall outlet, and then the switch 98 andslide 91 are manually actuatedand the machine is in operation. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the bedplate 86 is, as aforesaid, adjacent and in the same plane as the upper wall 25 of the partition member 17, thereby providing an extended working surface.

If it desired to remove the enclosure member 28 so that access can be had to the mechanism housed therein, it could be readily lifted upwardly, the said wall 46 slidably moving along said recessed portion 47 of the platform 48. And when the enclosure member is reset into its operative position, the interlocking engagement of said wall 46 and recessed portion 47 provides a rigid assembly.

When it is desired to store the machine within the cabinet, all that need be done is to swing back or remove the partition member ll7, whereupon the machine 78 can be lifted off platform 48, and placed within compartment 49, as above described and. as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a motorized cabinet structure for accommodating a machine having an operating wheel thereon, the combination of a casing, a base within the casing for opera tively supporting said machine in a predetermined operative position, a motor apparatus within said casing, a driving wheel operatively connected to said motor apparatus and in pressing engagement with said operating wheel, whereby upon an operative actuation of said apparatus said operating wheel will be rotated to cause said machine to operate, a partition member movably disposed on said casing and positioned and proportioned for placement in a closure position over the upper portion of the casing, and a cover member for said casing proportioned to envelop said partition member when the latter is in its said closure position, said partition member having an upper wall which, when the partition member is in its said closure position, is in spaced relation to the bottom of the casing to form an inner chamber, and positioned below the top of the machine when the latter is in its operative position, whereby the machine is partly in said chamber and partly above said upper wall, said upper wall having an apertured portion therein proportioned and positioned to permit the machine to extend therethrough when the partition member is in its said closure position, said chamber being proportioned toreceive said machine when in a predetermined inoperative prone position below said upper wall.

2. In a motorized cabinet structure for accommodating a machine having an operating wheel thereon, the combination of a casing, a base within the casing for operatively supporting said machine in a predetermined operative position, a motor apparatus within said casing, a driving wheel operatively connected to said motor apparatus and in pressing engagement with said operating wheel, whereby upon an operative actuation of said apparatus said operating wheel will be rotated to cause said machine to operate, a partition member pivotally connected to a wall of said casing and movable between a closure position over the upper portion of the casing and a retracted limiting position, and a cover member for said casing proportioned to envelop said partition member when the latter is in its said closure position, said partition member having an upper wall which, when the partition member is in its said closure position, is in spaced relation to the bottom of the casing to form an inner chamber, and positioned below the top of the machine when the latter is in its operative position, whereby the machine is partly in said chamber and partly above said upper wall, said upper wall having an apertured portion therein proportioned and positioned to permit the machine to extend therethrough when the partition member is in its said closure position; said upper wall, when the partition member is in said retracted position, being removed from said upper portion of the casing a distance sufiicient to expose said chamber, whereby the machine can be inserted and removed therefrom.

3. In a motorized cabinet structure for accommodating a sewing machine having a base member, a bedplate above the base member and a vertical operating wheel, the combination of a casing, a platform within the casing proportioned to receive said base member when the chine is in a predetermined operative position, a motor apparatus within said casing, a driving Wheel operatively connected to said motor apparatus and in pressing engagement with said operating wheel, whereby upon an operative actuation of said apparatus said operating wheel will be rotated to cause said machine to operate, a partition member movably disposed on said casing and positioned and proportioned for placement in a closure position over the upper portion of the casing, and a cover member for said casing proportioned to envelop said partition member when the latter is in its said closure position, said partition member having an upper wall which, when the partition member is in its said closure position, is substantially at the level of said bedplate When the machine is in said operative position, said upper wall having an apertured portion therein proportioned and positioned to permit the machine to extend therethrough when the partition member is in its said closure position, said up-' per wall of the partition member being adjacent said bedplate, whereby said upper Wall and bedplate together form an extended working table.

4. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 3, said driving wheel being disposed below said upper wall, whereby its region of engagement with said operating wheel will be below the level of said extended working table.

5. In a motorized cabinet structure for accommodating a machine having an operating wheel thereon, the combination of a bottom casing, a partition member movably disposed on said casing and positioned and proportioned for placement in a closure position over the upper forward portion of the casing, and a cover member for said casing proportioned to envelop said partition member when the latter is in its said closure position, an enclosure member disposed at the rear portion of the casing, said partition and enclosure members having respective upper walls in adjacent relation and substantially at the same level and, when the partition member is in its said closure position, being in spaced relation to the bottom of the casing to form an inner chamber, a base within said easing below the said upper wall of said partition member for operatively supporting said machine in a predetermined operative position, a motor apparatus within said casing positioned below said upper wall in said enclosure member, a driving wheel operatively connected to said motor apparatus and in pressing engagement with said operating wheel, whereby upon an operative actuation of said apparatus said operating wheel will be rotated to cause said machine to operate, said upper wall of said partition member having an apertured portion therein proportioned and positioned to permit the machine to extend therethrough when the partition member is in its said closure position.

6. In a motorized cabinet structure for accommodating a machine having a vertical operating wheel thereon, the combination according to claim 5, the plane of said upper walls being in intercepting relation to said operating wheel, said enclosure member having a recessed portion proportioned and positioned for receiving therein a portion of said operating wheel.

7. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 5, said casing being laterally enclosed by a front wall, two side walls and a rear wall, said upper walls of the partition and enclosure member being above the level of the upper edges of said casing walls, said enclosure member having a rear wall adjacent the rear wall of the casing and having a recessed portion therein extending above the level of the upper edge of the easings said rear wall, thereby to provide a ventilating aperture, said cover member being also proportioned to over & lie said enclosure member when the cover member is in its operative closing position.

v 8. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 5, said casing being laterally enclosed by a front wall, two side walls and a rear wall, said upper walls of the partition and enclosure member being above the level of the upper edges of said casing Walls, said partition member having a front wall adjacent the front wall of the casing and having a recessed portion therein extending above the level of the upper edge of the casings said front Wall, thereby to provide an aperture communicating between the interior of the casing and the outside.

9. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 5, and a transverse dividing wall within said casing below said upper wall of said enclosure member, thereby dividing the easing into a front and a rear compartment, said casing being laterally enclosed by a front wall, two side walls and a rear wall, said side walls being in spaced relation to the adjacent edges of said dividing wall, said enclosure member having side walls movably disposed between the corresponding side walls of the casing and said edges of the dividing wall, whereby the enclosure member can be vertically moved out of said casing.

10. In a motorized cabinet structure for accommodating a machine having an operating wheel thereon, the combination of a bottom casing, an enclosure member disposed at the rear portion of the casing, a base within the casing for operatively supporting said machine in a predetermined operative position, a transverse dividing Wall Within the casing dividing it into a front and a rear compartment, said base being disposed in said front cornpartment, a bracket in said rear compartment supported by said dividing wall, a motor apparatus within said rear compartment and operatively connected to and supported by said bracket, a driving Wheel operatively connected to said motor apparatus and in pressing engagement with said operating wheel, whereby upon an operative actuation of said apparatus said operating wheel will be rotated to cause said machine to operate.

11. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 10, a shaft operatively connected to the motor, said bracket having a bearing portion, said shaft extending forwardly through said bearing portion into said front compartment and positioned for operative engagement with the said driving wheel, a shaft attached to said driving wheel, a movable control plate carrying said last-mentioned shaft, said plate being movable between two limiting positions, one being an operative position at which said driving wheel is in operative engagement' with said operating wheel of the machine, and a retracted position at which said driving wheel is out of engagement with said operating Wheel, and means to operatively move said control plate between its said two limiting positions.

12. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 10, a shaft attached to said driving Wheel, a movable control plate carrying said last-mentioned shaft, said plate being movable between two limiting positions, one being an operative position at which said driving wheel is in operative engagement with said operating wheel of the machine, and a retracted position at which said driving Wheel is out of engagement with said operating wheel, said control plate having a cam arm and a stop arm, a movable cam actuator supported on said enclosure member and operatively engageable with said cam arm, and stop means operatively engageable with said stop arm when said control plate is at its said two limiting positions.

13. In a motorized cabinet structure, the combination according to claim 10, a shaft attached to said driving wheel, a movable control plate carrying said last-mentioned shaft, said plate being movable between two limiting positions, one being an operative position at which said driving wheel is in operative engagement with said operating Wheel of the machine, and a retracted position at which said driving Wheel is out of engagement With said operating Wheel, said control plate having a cam arm and a stop arm, a control slide member on said en closure member and operatively engageable With said cam arm for actuating it and said control plate between said tWo limiting positions, and switch means on said cabinet structure operatively connected to said motor.

1,524,026 Diehl Jan. 27, 1925 Finlayson Dec. 2, Robert Dec. 21, Fessenden Nov. 28, Gadbois Dec. 15, Bell May 4, Hirsh July 19, Leahy June 5,

'FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 24, Great Britain Apr. 27, Germany May 23, France July 9, 

